EP1117161B1 - Connecteur rotatif - Google Patents

Connecteur rotatif Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1117161B1
EP1117161B1 EP00128749A EP00128749A EP1117161B1 EP 1117161 B1 EP1117161 B1 EP 1117161B1 EP 00128749 A EP00128749 A EP 00128749A EP 00128749 A EP00128749 A EP 00128749A EP 1117161 B1 EP1117161 B1 EP 1117161B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stator housing
movable contact
rotary connector
housing
attachment
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00128749A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1117161A2 (fr
EP1117161A3 (fr
Inventor
Tsuyoshi c/o Niles Parts Co. Ltd. Matsumoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Niles Parts Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Niles Parts Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Niles Parts Co Ltd filed Critical Niles Parts Co Ltd
Publication of EP1117161A2 publication Critical patent/EP1117161A2/fr
Publication of EP1117161A3 publication Critical patent/EP1117161A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1117161B1 publication Critical patent/EP1117161B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
    • B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
    • B60R16/023—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
    • B60R16/027—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R35/00—Flexible or turnable line connectors, i.e. the rotation angle being limited
    • H01R35/02—Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members
    • H01R35/025—Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R39/00—Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters
    • H01R39/64—Devices for uninterrupted current collection

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a rotary connector that electrically connects between a steering wheel and a body of an automobile, and more particularly to a rotary connector that incorporates a slip-ring mechanism.
  • This conventional connector includes a rotor housing and a stator housing assembled to each other into a complete housing assembly in which a flat cable in the shape of a spiral is housed and electrically connects the vehicle body and the steering wheel.
  • This rotary connector is used for an air bag system or an alarm device mounted to the steering wheel.
  • the current that flows through the connector is small.
  • the flat cable includes thin wires covered with thin film.
  • the aforementioned conventional rotary connector can be used only for low current applications.
  • the conventional rotary connector cannot be applied to a heater that heats a steering wheel, because the heater requires a large current. If the heater current flows through a flat cable, the conductors in the flat cable generate heat that is sufficient to melt the film covering the conductors.
  • the present invention was made in view of the aforementioned problems.
  • An object of the invention is provide a rotary connector suitable for an electric apparatus that is assembled into a steering wheel and consumes a relatively large current.
  • the present invention was made to solve the problems associated with the aforementioned conventional art.
  • the present invention provides the following advantages.
  • the invention defined in Claim 1 is a rotary connector having:
  • This construction allows electrical connection between the steering wheel and the vehicle body by means of the flat cable and slip-ring mechanism, so that more electric circuits can be accommodated on the steering wheel and steering pad.
  • the current supplied to the slip-ring mechanism does not flow through the flat cable.
  • a device that consumes relatively large current can be mounted on the steering wheel.
  • the invention defined by Claim 2 is the rotary connector according to Claim 1 wherein the rotary connector has the flat cable and the cord, wherein the cord has one end thereof connected to a device mounted on the steering wheel and the other end thereof connected to the slip-ring mechanism through a shaft sleeve.
  • the cord can be routed by getting out of the way of the rotative steering shaft so that the cord does not wrap around the steering shaft and steering wheel.
  • the invention defined by Claim 3 is the rotary connector according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the flange of the attachment supports the movable contact plates of the slip-ring mechanism thereon; and wherein the bottom of the stator housing has a non-movable contact plate thereon on which the movable contact plate slides.
  • the structure allows the movable contact plate and non-movable contact plate to be mounted without increasing the number of parts, thereby reducing cost.
  • the invention defined by Claim 4 is the rotary connector according to Claim 3, wherein the movable contact plate is provided on the flange of the attachment and connected to the cord, the non-movable contact plate is insert-molded in the bottom of the stator housing.
  • Reference numeral 1 denotes a rotary connector that electrically connects the vehicle body of an automobile to a steering wheel 11 of the automobile.
  • the rotary connector 1 includes a stator housing 2, a rotor housing 3, an attachment 4, and a flat cable 5.
  • the stator housing 2 is mounted to a combination switch 9 that is fixed to the steering column (not shown).
  • the rotor housing 3 engages the underside of the steering wheel 11 and rotates together with the steering wheel 11.
  • the attachment 4 rotatably engages the rotor housing 3.
  • the flat cable 5 is in the shape of a spiral accommodated in a space defined between the stator housing 2 and the rotor housing 3.
  • the stator housing 2 is a stationary parts that is fixed on a base 10 of the combination switch 9 by means of a screw or a fastening portion 2c.
  • the stator housing 2 includes a bottom section 2a and a side section 2b that are assembled together. Specifically, the side section 2b has engagement holes (not shown), while the bottom section 2a has claws (not shown). The bottom section 2a and side section 2b are assembled together with the claws fitted into the engagement holes.
  • the bottom section 2a and side section 2b may be formed in one piece construction. thereby providing the stator housing 2 in one piece.
  • the upper surface of the bottom section 2a holds one end of the flat cable 5 as shown in Fig. 2 and has a guide (not shown) in a space A defined by the stator housing 2 and the rotor housing 3.
  • the guide guides the flat cable 5 accommodated in the space A.
  • the space has a slide sheet 13 placed on the inner bottom floor of the bottom section 2a.
  • a connector 2d Disposed below the guide is a connector 2d provided on the side section 2b of the rotor housing 2.
  • the bottom section 2a has a plurality of ring-shaped non-movable contact-plates 7 that are exposed.
  • the non-movable contact-plates 7 are, for example insert-molded in the bottom surface of the stator housing 2. As shown in Fig. 2, one ends of the non-movable contact-plates 7 are exposed within the bottom section 2a and the other ends are exposed as terminals 7a in the connector 2d.
  • the connector 2d has terminals (not shown) that are connected via the flat cable 5 to a wire harness 12 disposed on the rotor housing 3.
  • the terminals (not shown) connected to the flat cable 5 and the terminals 7a of the non-movable contact-plate 7 may be disposed in the connector 2d or may be disposed in separate connectors (not shown).
  • the side section 2b has a substantially ring-shaped cylindrical portion 2e and a frame section 2f formed on an outer periphery around the lower end of the cylindrical portion 2e, the frame section 2f and the cylindrical portion 2e being in one piece construction.
  • the frame section 2f has the connector 2d and the fastening portion 2c by means of which the rotary connector 1 is fixed to the base 10 of the combination switch 9.
  • the attachment 4 has a fitting portion 4b and a projection 4c shown in Fig. 2 that couples the stator housing 2 to the rotor housing 3.
  • the attachment 4 also has an annular flange 4a around the outer surface of the attachment 4, and a through-hole 4d formed below the flange 4a.
  • a cord 8 passes through the through-hole 4d.
  • the attachment 4 couples the stator housing 2 to an rotor housing 3 by using such a means as disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent No. 10-22029.
  • the flange 4a supports a plurality of movable contact plates 6 that are formed of an electrically conductive, resilient material as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • movable contact plates 6 are used, but more movable-contact plates may be used as required.
  • the movable contact plate 6 is crimped to securely attach to the flange 4a and a crimped portion projects downwardly of the flange 4a.
  • the projecting portion of the movable contact plate 6 is soldered to a cord 8.
  • the cord 8 inserted through the through-hole 4d near the flange 4a passes through a shaft sleeve 1a, and is connected to a device such as a steering wheel heater mounted to the steering wheel 11.
  • the cord 8 has a large diameter such that a relatively large current can flow through the cord 8.
  • the flat cable 5 has a plurality of, for example, belt-shaped wires that are arranged at predetermined intervals and sandwiched between two sheets of resin films made of insulation resin pressed together with heat applied thereto.
  • the flat cable 5 has one end connected to the terminals in the connector 2d of the stator housing 2 and the other end connected to the wire harness 12 of the rotor housing 3.
  • the flat cable 5 is accommodated in a doughnut-shaped space defined by the stator housing 2 and rotor housing 3 such that the flat cable is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise through more than two complete rotations from a neutral position at which the vehicle runs straight.
  • the embodiment of the present invention is of the aforementioned construction.
  • the rotary connector apparatus 1 and movable contact plate 6 are such that when the steering wheel 11 is rotated, the cord 8 rotates together with the steering wheel 11, attachment 4, and rotor housing 3. Thus, there is no chance of the cord being twisted.
  • the movable contact plate 6 slides while also being in pressure contact with the non-movable contact plate 7 at all times.
  • the cord 8, movable contact plate 6, and non-movable contact plate 7 are thicker than the conductors of the flat cable 5, so that a larger current can flow therethrough.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Steering Controls (AREA)
  • Electric Cable Arrangement Between Relatively Moving Parts (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Claims (4)

  1. Connecteur rotatif comportant :
    un logement de stator (2) monté sur un châssis de véhicule d'une automobile,
    un logement de rotor (3) monté avec possibilité de rotation sur ledit logement de stator (2) et couplé à un volant de direction (11),
    un élément de fixation (4) qui couple le logement de rotor (3) audit logement de stator (2) de sorte que le logement de rotor (3) peut être entraíné en rotation par rapport au logement de stator (2),
    un câble plat (5) logé dans l'espace (A) défini par ledit logement de rotor (3) et ledit logement de stator (2),
       caractérisé en ce que
       ledit élément de fixation (4) comporte une collerette annulaire (4a) formée au niveau d'une périphérie extérieure de celui-ci, et un mécanisme de bague collectrice est prévu entre la collerette (4a) et une section de surface inférieure (2a) du logement de stator (2).
  2. Connecteur rotatif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le connecteur rotatif (1) comporte le câble plat (5) et le cordon (8),
       dans lequel le cordon (8) comporte une première extrémité de celui-ci reliée à un dispositif monté sur le volant de direction (11) et l'autre extrémité de celui-ci reliée au mécanisme de bague collectrice par l'intermédiaire d'une chemise d'arbre (la).
  3. Connecteur rotatif selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel la collerette (4a) de l'élément de fixation (4) supporte des plaques de contact mobiles (6) du mécanisme de bague collectrice sur celle-ci, et
       dans lequel la partie inférieure (2a) du logement de stator (2) comporte une plaque de contact non mobile (7) sur celle-ci, sur laquelle coulisse la plaque de contact mobile (6).
  4. Connecteur rotatif selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la plaque de contact mobile (6) est disposée sur la collerette (4a) de l'élément de fixation (4) et reliée au cordon (8), la plaque de contact non mobile (6) est moulée par insertion dans la section inférieure (2a) du logement de stator (2).
EP00128749A 2000-01-06 2000-12-30 Connecteur rotatif Expired - Lifetime EP1117161B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2000001097 2000-01-06
JP2000001097A JP3633413B2 (ja) 2000-01-06 2000-01-06 回転コネクタ装置

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1117161A2 EP1117161A2 (fr) 2001-07-18
EP1117161A3 EP1117161A3 (fr) 2001-08-01
EP1117161B1 true EP1117161B1 (fr) 2003-03-19

Family

ID=18530357

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00128749A Expired - Lifetime EP1117161B1 (fr) 2000-01-06 2000-12-30 Connecteur rotatif

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US6371779B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP1117161B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3633413B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE60001710T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1235313B1 (fr) * 2001-02-21 2010-08-25 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Connecteur rotatif utilisant une pluralité de câbles flexibles
JP4024025B2 (ja) * 2001-10-11 2007-12-19 ナイルス株式会社 回転コネクタ装置
US6712618B2 (en) 2002-01-10 2004-03-30 Welch Leroy Electrical brushless rotary connector assembly
US20050284689A1 (en) * 2004-06-23 2005-12-29 Michael Simpson Clockspring with sound dampener
JP4602176B2 (ja) * 2005-07-01 2010-12-22 矢崎総業株式会社 回転コネクタ装置
KR101506742B1 (ko) 2008-12-22 2015-03-27 대성전기공업 주식회사 차량용 롤 커넥터 장치
JP5065508B2 (ja) * 2010-03-30 2012-11-07 古河電気工業株式会社 回転コネクタ装置
KR101322593B1 (ko) * 2011-03-14 2013-10-28 알프스 덴키 가부시키가이샤 회전 커넥터
ES2436501T3 (es) 2011-06-28 2014-01-02 Sandvik Intellectual Property Ab Punta de corte y fresa de corte con mayores resistencia y capacidad de penetración
US20160016524A1 (en) * 2014-05-23 2016-01-21 Symtec, Inc. System for providing electrical conductor pathway to a vehicle steering wheel
GB2582640B (en) * 2019-03-29 2021-10-27 Protean Electric Ltd A drive arrangement for a vehicle
CN113765045B (zh) * 2021-08-31 2022-12-13 上海卫星装备研究所 星载转台活动电缆布线系统及方法

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4417775A (en) * 1980-11-26 1983-11-29 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Electrical connector device
JPH0681208B2 (ja) 1989-07-25 1994-10-12 株式会社田村電機製作所 電話機の電源制御回路
JP3437199B2 (ja) * 1992-10-28 2003-08-18 アシスト シンコー株式会社 クリーンルーム用無人搬送車
JP3543881B2 (ja) * 1995-11-08 2004-07-21 株式会社デンソー 交流発電機
DE19754809C1 (de) * 1997-12-10 1999-02-18 Kostal Leopold Gmbh & Co Kg Energieübertragungseinrichtung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3633413B2 (ja) 2005-03-30
DE60001710T2 (de) 2003-10-16
US6371779B2 (en) 2002-04-16
DE60001710D1 (de) 2003-04-24
EP1117161A2 (fr) 2001-07-18
US20010007799A1 (en) 2001-07-12
JP2001196145A (ja) 2001-07-19
EP1117161A3 (fr) 2001-08-01

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